Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – a comparison of important teachings in each; similarities and differences.

Jesus (Isa) will return to over-throw al-Dajjal in the battle of ‘Aqabat Afiq’ inSyria, or at the Lud gate inJerusalem according to another account. Jesus will “kill all pigs and break all crosses”, confirming Islam as the only true religion. After 40 years Jesus will die and be buried next to Muhammad in Medina (Islam teaches that Jesus didn’t die in A.D. 33 but has been in a state of “suspended animation” since)

The Messiah will defeat the gentile nations (Zech 14:10) and restore the kingdom of Israel (Zech 14).
The Jews in exile will return and rule in an age of spiritual harmony (Zech 14:5).
Isaiah 42:6 will be fulfilled and God will be recognized as the universal king (Zech 14:9).

Allah will destroy all the nations except Islamic ones. At the end of Jesus’ and the messianic Imam’s rule, the angels will be destroyed and the earth will “spill out its contents”.

The Earth will be destroyed (excludes angels)

The Earth will be destroyed (excludes angels)

II Peter 3:10

Signs will be seen preceding judgment day

Yes – The Jews will be gathered together. Final battle between Muslims and Jews. Quran also contains a version of the “Gog & Magog” war from the Bible with several differences.

Yes

Yes (Matthew 24:4-28)

Similarities

ISLAM

JUDAISM

CHRISTIANITY

Judgment announced with the trumpet of an archangel

Yes – Qu’ran 36:51 “And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! they shall speed out of their sepulchers to their Lord:”

Yes – shofar will announce beginning of messianic era, gather the scattered exiles, and serve as a summons to the heavenly court on the Day of Judgment)

Yes – Matthew 24:31 “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Also 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Who must experience death?

All people will experience physical death

All people will experience physical death

All people will experience physical death except those living when Christ returns.

Basis for salvation / eternal life

Works will be judged on the scales of justice which will be hung on a pillared structure on the eastern side of the Temple Mountplatform. If the scales show more good works than bad, the Muslim believer receives eternal life.

Works – by following the commandments given by God in the Torah.

Salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who already paid the penalty for our sins.

Levels of Reward

Seven levels of reward

Three levels of reward

Not levels, but degrees of reward

Hell as an eternal punishment

Hell is a lake of fire where non-Muslims/ infidels live in torment.

Sura 4:56 “Some of them believe on the prophet [Mohammad] and some turn aside from him: – the flame of hell is their sufficing punishment”

Islam teaches that there are 8 levels of torment.

Sura 14:50 “And thou shalt see the wicked on that day linked together in chains – their garments of pitch, and fire shall enwrap their faces – that God may reward every soul as it deserveth;”

Those who are not saved will be thrown into the fire of hell for eternity. (Matthew 5:29)

The lake of fire is the second death of the soul. (Rev. 20:14)

Differences

Differences

ISLAM

JUDAISM

CHRISTIANITY

The Nature of Man

Men are basically good. (Sura 7:23-29)

Some have been guided toward right and some are left in error. We are inherently good, but Satan brings some into trouble as Allah wills.

There are two inclinations within man – Good and bad

Men have a sinful nature and are inherently wicked. We are made alive/changed through Jesus Christ unto good works. (Romans 9:20)

Ephesians 2:1-5 “But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Belief in Purgatory (A non-scriptural based belief in a temporary hell where one can be purified or gain entry into heaven, particularly through prayers made on behalf of the dead by the living. Used as a means to monetary gain in the Roman Catholic church wherein prayers by the clergy are paid for by the layman)

Yes – called Barzakh

No

Evangelicals – No

Catholics – Yes

Assurance of Salvation

It is impossible in this life to have any assurance of salvation. Good works will be measured against bad on the scales of justice on judgment day.

Yes, but only for observant Jews

Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior have eternal life. (I John 1:12-13) Salvation is a free gift available to all willing to receive it. Colossians 1:22-23 “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard…”

Genesis 18:25 – 26 “Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The Lord said, If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

God is a just God (Romans 3:26)

II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Beliefs on those who will experience the tribulation

Believers of Allah will be hidden with the prophet Mohammad, followed by a “wind of destruction” which will kill all the remaining people.

The whole world is to be destroyed, but Israel will be delivered out of it.

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.”

Jeremiah 30:7 “How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.”

The church will be raptured (snatched away) and taken to be with the Lord. God’s judgment will be poured out on the wicked of the earth.

3 Views:

Pre-Tribulation rapture

Mid-Tribulation rapture

Post-Tribulation rapture

Christ will come again

Yes – “To break the cross and kill the swine” followed by an “eruption of fire in Eden”.

No – The Messiah’s coming has not yet happened, and will happen in the future at the end of the tribulation.

Yes – Jesus will return.

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Titus 2:13 “While we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”

See Also Rev. 22:20

Signs of the End Times

Major and minor signs will reveal that the end times have arrived (Sura 21:96, 27:82, 43:61)

A “Great Destruction” which destroys all but God, then a resurrection / recreation

War of Gog and Magog, in which God defeats Gentiles and establishes Israel in its kingdom over all the earth.

After Armageddon, Satan is bound and believers enter the Millennium. Following the thousand year reign of Christ there is a final battle with Satan (Revelation 20:7-9), the destruction of the cosmos (2 Peter 3:10-13) and recreation (Revelation 21:1)

The End-time ruler(following Armageddon)

Gog and Magog led by Darius, the king of Persia(Sura 21:96)

King Messiah as God’s regent rules over the earth until time of re-creation.

Christ

Length of judgment

50,000 years

The world will exist for 6,000 years (2,000 Desolation; 2,000 Torah; 2,000 days of Messiah. The last 1,000 years (the Great Sabbath) will be a time of renewal (Sanhedrin 97a)

Eternal (Mark 9:43-48

Temporal dwelling for dead

Most scholars say the good and the bad will be with Allah until judgment, but some say “Alam Bazar” is for all people or for only the wicked.

She’ol – place of departed spirits.

Christians will be in Christ’s presence (II Corinthians 5:8)

Non-Christians will go to Hades (Luke 16:23, Revelation 20:13)

Eternal dwelling for believers

Janah (“Paradise”)

Gan’eden (Heavenly abode)

Heaven/New JerusalemRevelation 21:2-3 “I saw the Holy City , the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

Sura 55:56 “On couches with linings of brocade shall they recline, and therin shall be the damsels with retiring glances, whom nor man nor djinn hath touched before them: Like jacynths and pearls: Shall the reward of good be aught but good? And beside these shall be two other gardens: With gushing fountains in each: In each fruits and the palm and the pomegranate: In each the fai, the beauteous ones: With large dark eyeballs, kept close in their pavilions: Whom man hath never touched nor any djinn: Their spouses on soft green cushions and on beautiful carpets shall recline: Blessed by the name of they Lord, full of majesty and Glory.” Also (Sura 56:15-22, Sura 47)